Paper-clip.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

No. 729,871. r

J. M. KEEP.

PAPER CLIP.

APPLICATION FILED P33. 12. 1903.

no MCDEL.

Nrrn. Frames Patented June 2, 1908. 7

Arthur rricn.

JAMES M. KEEP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALBERTUS A. WEEKS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

PAPER-CLIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,871, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed February 12, 1903. $erial No. 142,987. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES M. KEEP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Clips, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to paper-clips, a well-known device for holding bills, letters, and other papers. As usually made they consist of a metal clamp and a base or back of wood or metal. The clamp and base are provided with lugs projecting from their opposing sides. These lugs contribute to the formation of a hinge-like joint when combined together with a pin or rivet. This method of constructing the joint necessitates much labor in drilling, filing, and fitting and waste of material, therefore is expensive and not always satisfactory.

The object of my invention is to avoid these objections by constructing and jointing the clamp and base in a very simple, inexpensive, and efficient manner, and to insure a firm and steady motion to the clip when being opened and closed.

To this end it consists of parts constructed,

the clamp with lugs, the base with slots to receive the lugs of theclamp, as hereinafter described and shown.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of clip complete. Fig. 2 isa blank for clamp. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the clamp in form. Fig. 4 is a base or back. Fig; 5 is a longitudinal section of clip complete.

Sheet metal is best adapted for the clamp. From this I first cut with dies the blank, as shown in Fig. 2. The holes H having been punched in thelugs, the clamp is then formed up and completed, as shown in Fig. 3. The

back B is preferably of wood of rectangular form and slotted on each side near the edge to receive the lugs of the clamp (see Figs.

1 and 4) S S. These slots are out through the back to admit of motion. They should be about one-half longer than the lugs are wide and of width only to admit the lugs. The spring N is preferably made of sheet metal turned into U shape. The end of one side is fastened to the base, the other end bearing against the free end of the clamp. These parts having been constructed substantially as described and shown are united to operate by first confining thespring in position to the base with a rivet or pin, then pressing the lugs of the clamp down into the slots and confining them there with a suitable pin, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the joint is formed and the clipcompleted. It may then be operated by depressing the free end of the clamp. On being released the opposite end will close down upon the base and thereat hold the papers.

The novelty of my invention consists in the cheap, simple, and effective manner in which I construct the clamp with lugs and the back with slots and unite them to form the joint and to cooperate, as described.

What I claim as new, and desire Letters Patent therefor, is-- In a paper-clip, in combination, a clamp provided with lugs, said lugs having holes near their outer end, a back slotted near opposite edges, said slots adapted to receive said lugs which are adapted to be retained therein by a pin, and a spring adapted to actuate the clamp, all substantially as shown and described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of February, A. D. 1903.

JAMES M. KEEP.

Witnesses:

A. L. VAN Nnss, HARRY V. Goes. 

